China expels Al Jazeera correspondent

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 8 May 2012

China refused to renew Al Jazeera English correspondent Melissa Chan’s visa, leading the broadcaster to close its Beijing bureau. The FCCC said the move followed official dissatisfaction with Al Jazeera content and reflects tighter controls on foreign media.

Summary

BEIJING: Al Jazeera has closed the China bureau for its English channel after Chinese authorities refused to renew its correspondent's visa, marking the first such expulsion of an accredited foreign correspondent in over a decade. Melissa Chan had reported from Beijing for Al Jazeera's English language channel since 2007, as well as maintaining a Twitter feed with over 14,000 followers.

China's foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment, and Ms Chan also said she had no comment. The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) said the Chinese authorities' decision to allow Ms Chan's accreditation to lapse came after they expressed dissatisfaction about some of Al Jazeera's content, including a documentary produced overseas.

Chinese authorities also said that Ms Chan, a US citizen, had violated unspecified rules and regulations, the FCCC said. "This is the most extreme example of a recent pattern of using journalist visas in an attempt to censor and intimidate foreign correspondents in China," it said. Ms Chan was a member of the FCCC board.

China has tightened restrictions on foreign journalists over the past year over concerns that protests sweeping North Africa and the Middle East could also find a foothold in China. Al Jazeera has produced a number of critical programs about China in recent years, including one examining the alleged use of prison labor to make products sold in Western markets.

The Qatar-based news broadcaster said it would continue to cover China and hoped to work with Beijing for reopening of the bureau. "We are committed to our coverage of China.

Just as China news services cover the world freely, we would expect that same freedom in China for any Al Jazeera journalist," the channel said in an emailed statement. Al Jazeera's Arabic language channel will continue to have a correspondent in Beijing.

The broadcaster has been applying for more than a year for additional reporting positions in Beijing but has not been granted accreditation.- Reuters

KEY POINTS:

• Al Jazeera closed its China bureau for the English channel after Melissa Chan’s visa was not renewed.
• The FCCC called it the first expulsion of an accredited foreign correspondent in China in more than a decade.
• Chinese authorities cited dissatisfaction with Al Jazeera content and alleged unspecified rule violations, according to the FCCC.
• Chan reported from Beijing for Al Jazeera English since 2007 and served on the FCCC board.
• Al Jazeera said it will continue covering China, while its Arabic channel will keep a correspondent in Beijing.